Fulham lose court battle with Tigana

Fulham today lost their bitter High Court legal dispute with former manager Jean Tigana.

Tigana, who was dismissed in June last year, had come under fire for his conduct of transfer deals involving goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar and strikers Steve Marlet and John Carew.

The club claimed he was in breach of the express obligations of his April 2000 contract, the implied obligations of fidelity, good faith, trust and confidence and the fiduciary duties owed by virtue of being a director.

The club's QC, David Phillips, had told Mr Justice Elias in London: "Mr Tigana's career at Fulham began in hope and optimism but ended in deceit and dishonesty.

"We say that he not only acted in a manner contrary to the club's interests but subsequently deliberately concealed what he had done from Fulham."

Tigana defence

But Tigana said: "I believe that I always acted in the best interests of the team and the club as a whole.

"I carried out my duties to the best of my ability and experience and exercised the necessary care and skill required of me.

"I always acted within my own powers and my motives were honest and always intended to benefit Fulham.

"Any actions that I took as the club's manager and/or a director were calculated to benefit the club."

After his summary dismissal, Tigana took Fulham to an employment tribunal, claiming unlawful deductions from wages, and was awarded £455,000, which was held by lawyers pending the determination of Fulham's claim for unspecified damages in the current action.

Tigana counterclaimed for unfair dismissal, seeking payment of all the unpaid money he said was due to him which was not covered by the employment tribunal hearing.